..:in love:..

I've always been passionate about one thing and that has always been baseball. Baseball was my first love and it taught me so much. I think once you find something you are so deeply passionate about it grows to consume your life. Fortunately for me a couple of months ago my true love entered my life. His name is Cameron Wood. We met through mutual friends on May 30, which happened to be his 23 birthday, and our love story just grew from there. I decided to write this post because Cam has been there for me through so much lately and he has helped me keep my head on straight. I think that's what makes a perfect couple. Two people who know each other on such a level where they are willing to see past the others fault and just love them.
With Thanksgiving around the corner I am really trying to focus on what I am grateful for. I am so thankful for my life, I wouldn't change it. It has been a very difficult two years for me and through all the struggles and the tears I formed some sort of wall. This wall was built from trust issues and insecurities and the feeling of being lost but I found someone who broke that down and helped me believe again. It was a feeling I haven't felt since years ago. I am happier than I have ever been, more in love than I could possibly imagine and within the year I hope to marry this boy and continue to be this happy for the rest of eternity.
Hopefully this Thanksgiving we all recognize what truly matters and what we are truly grateful. Happy holidays my fellow fans :)

heroes among us

In honor of Veterans Day this past week, I thought I would share something a little more personal.
My family has been involved in the United States Military for many generations. 
Because so, I have much respect for the Military and for all of the men and women serving our country. Through all these men and women, one of my greatest heroes is my great-grandpa, Theo Nelson. 
I am very blessed to have been so close to him while he was on this earth. For some reason he has been on my mind a lot recently.
I remember growing up in his house, with the smells of the fireplace, the pictures mounted on the wall, and the clocks ticking, but mostly I remember standing on the tree stump in his back yard listening to the soothing sound of trains passing by. Sometime when I really can't find peace in this world I go back to those days, of simplicity and love, and I try to re-live it as much as possible.  It is one of those sights and feelings that you will never forget, no matter how old you get or how distant your life becomes; from what it used to be.
But its hard, living in such a world where silence can never be found. You can lose yourself in the materialistic and the deceiving notions of what true happiness is. To me; true happiness is wearing my grandpa's cowboy hat, its watching an F-16 fly over an American Flag, it is holding hands with the man I love, it watching a baseball game on a summers night...
And It is standing on a beaten down, rustic old tree stump and just listening. 
There are heroes among us every day and they get over looked by vain and selfish acts. They can be a physical person or in my case they can be a memory. We need to find these heroes and believe in them with all that we have. 

I want to share with you a video that my Uncle Todd Kunz, anchor for eyewitness news in eastern Idaho, showed on his local station, 

WWII Buddies Reunite After 63 years

How can you not love the man in this video? :)
I know that I will see him again some day but until that day arrives I will so desperately hold onto his memory and his legacy because that is where I find happiness. 

..:i am second:..

Clayton Kershaw, star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, just became the newest and the youngest recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award on Oct. 28, just before Game 4 of the World Series. 

The award was named after the Pirates Hall of Famer and 15-time All Star, who died in a plane crash, on New Years Eve 1972, while on his way to deliver relief aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

After winning the NL Cy Young award last year, which was expected, no one saw this coming.

 Not even Kershaw himself.

This award recognizes the player who best represents the game through positive contribution, (both on and off the field) through community service and sportsmanship.

Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, have founded the "Kershaw Challenge." A charitable organization that encourages people to help at risk children. They have also provided assistance to a charity called "Arise Africa," this organization helps build and sustain an orphanage in Luska, Zambia called "Hope's Home." 

Alongside with books and other forms of charity Kershaw has proven worthy of this presitgious award.

On field Kershaw has posted a 61-37 record and leads the Majors with a 2.79 ERA and a .215 opponents batting average.

This award isn't just given based on stats or records, this award is presented to our everyday heroes that change the world, just because that is who they are.

 They don't do it for the fame or the glory. They don't do it for the awards or medals. 

They do good because they are good. 

They have been raised well and they have been disciplined. Maybe we all need a little of that in our lives. Someone to give us hope,  to show us that there is something more out there.

Someone to teach us that if we try we might actually leave an impact on this world.

We can start here. Follow this link and donate today to support Kershaw's Challenge.

You will be surprised what you get when you give. 

http://www.kershawschallenge.com/

..:post hoc ergo propter hoc:..

after this, therefore because of that 

I have been dreading writing this post because this means the end of the 2012 baseball season.

A season where unexpected triumphs turned into expected titles, a season where a triple crown was worn and where trades shocked the world.  

For those who don't know I am a Political Science major at Weber State University. Odd? I know. Doesn't quite seem like a major fit for someone who wants to work in baseball for the rest of their life.

But one thing I have learned through my major that affects baseball is the logical fallacy;

"post hoc ergo propter hoc"

As the title of this post shows, it means- after this, therefore because of that.

One event is caused by another. 

In the world of politics I firmly believe in this fallacy.

However, in the world of baseball..not so much. 

Game 4.

On paper the San Francisco Giants had the odds against them. The Tigers, who had swept the Yankees to make it to the playoffs, were the favored team. 

So what exactly went wrong?

The Tigers went down in flames after losing 4 games to none, causing the Giants to snatch the Series title right from underneath them. 

Cabrera, the 1st triple crown recipient since 1967, alongside with THE ace Verlander and Prince Fielder should have won this. 

This series was a blur but it proved that this game is not won by paper but it is won on the field.

Who would have thought that Cabrera, who is running as AL MVP would strike out in the last inning after having a .231 average. What if he didn't strike out would the series be over?

Or what if Verlander, Mr. Invincible, didn't lose game 1 and had a chance to pitch game 4. Would the tigers have taken the series, or at least been tied and onto game 5?

What if Fielder batted more than a measly .071 average? 

What if Omar Infante didn't get hit on a wild pitch?

Jim Leyland, manager for Detroit, said "We got beat, you can sit here and try to find some reason or excuse. They beat us, and they earned it. We didn't hit enough so you just turn the page and move on. Congratulations to the Giants. They did a fantastic job."

Does one event really lead to another?

Some say yes? I say in this game; There is no such thing as a coincidence

So, baseball is over for another 16 weeks, until the pitchers and catchers report to their designated spring training. The season of freshly cut grass, sunsets behind the American flag, devastating losses and triumphant nights are over. For the time being. 

Until then, I will be covering baseball off the field. 

Because this game never ends. 

-nightmares about a panda-

game 1

Pablo Sandoval, third baseman for the San Fran Giants belted 3 homers in 3 at bats during game one of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers; making history along side Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Albert Pujols. All men have hit at least 3 home runs in a single World Series game. And this is how the panda did it...

 1st inning:

Verlander-the bullet from Detroit-allowed a 95 mph fastball, on a 0-2 count, straight into the capable hands of this 'giant' panda. allowing the first homer of the night. Giants u p1-0

 3rd inning:

Angel Pagan doubles off the third base bag, Marc Scutaro singles and again Sandoval hits right passed left field. Giants up 4-0

 5th inning:

Al Albuquerque, reliever for the tigers, pitched a slider to Sandoval, who blasted it right into the center wall. Giants up 6-0.

Now as the panda made history he didn't win the game alone.

Pagan went 2 for 4

Scutaro went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI

Sandoval went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI

Belt went 1 for 3

Posey 1 RBI

Zito 1 RBI

 In an interview by MLB Sandoval said:

"It's one of those things you're never going to forget. But you've got to keep playing the game, focusing."

Wise words kung-fu panda.

 This team, sadly, has proven to be a force to be reckoned with defeating the Tigers 8-3. What happened to the team the took out the broom and swept the yankees?? The Tigers need to step it up.

Can the Tigers pull out a W?

Could Pablo Sandoval be the next Mr. October?

game 2. tonight. experience the magic. because legends are born in october.

"the shot heard around the world"

Dodgers. Giants.

It is no secret I am a Los Angeles Dodgers fan-atic. Over the past half-decade I have fallen more and more into the trance of dodger blue and claim LA as my team. Making it very difficult to watch the world series...thanks in part to the San Francisco Giants. Our biggest rivalry. The Dodger/Giants rivalry is said to be one of the greatest, most competitive and longest standing rivalry in American baseball. Yankees. Red Sox. All great stuff but this rivalry is in a league of its own. This dates clear back to the 19th century when both teams originated in New York. The Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants (playing in Manhattan). The first game played between these two strong willed teams was on April 8, 1883. They have played each other 2,373 times, more than any other rivalry team. Each winning 6 world series. In 1957 O' Malley moved the Dodgers to LA (for financial reasons) and convinced Giants manager, Stoneham, to move to the bay as well- in attempt to keep the competition going. LA and San Fran have always been at each others throats due to political and economic rivalry's so it only seemed fit to move the two most competitive teams in baseball to this area. 

Back in 1951 the race for the pennant was one that will never be forgotten. The Dodgers held a 13.5 game lead against the Giants mid-August. However, the Giants accepted the challenge and ended up tying the Dodgers for the playoffs. Game 1-Giants. Game 2-Dodgers. Tie-breaker went to the Giants with a dramatic homer in the ninth inning known as "the shot heard around the world." This was then and will always be known as the greatest home run in the history of baseball. 

As much as it pain me to say the Giants have a way of holding on to the end. Especially this year. With a stacked team and a "freak" for a pitcher it seems as if this team could be unstoppable this post season. Point proven in game 7 of the race to the world series. With a 9-0 win the Giants bring the pennant back to the bay. S/O to Pitcher Matt Cain who showed elusive strength with his 5 2/3 shutout innings (meaning no runs). Its hard to give credit to a team I despise. But I guess that is baseball. It requires skill and discipline. You can't B.S your way through this game. Credit is given when credit is earned. And the Giants earned it. 

Tonight is game 1 of the World Series. Giants. Tigers. Be there. 

"you people are guests in my corn"

Field of Dreams was an inspirational movie made it 1989, a movie that changed my life. Baseball changed my life. Back in the 6th grade I moved from Utah to Minnesota, this transition was hard for me because I felt alone, with no one to turn to. That is when I was introduced to the magic of baseball. The Minnesota Twins were our hometown heroes and even though they failed to impress, on multiple occasions, they never let me down. Every day for 7 months they showed up to the plate, and played with passion and hope. 9th grade was another turn of events for me when I moved back to Utah, again I felt alone and turned to the one thing I knew I could count on. Baseball.

I have pursued a career path in baseball working for the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league team, the Ogden Raptors. For the past 5 years I have dedicated the months of March to October to the game. From spring training, to opening night, to trade deadlines, to post season and to the final pitch I have followed it faithfully. I am aware not everyone is a "die-hard" like myself and that is the reasoning behind this blog. To enlightened the disheartened. This game will change your life. I guarantee. It changed mine and I will never be the same again.